The next day.
Chen Nuo first went to Chen Yong's house.
"Auntie."
"Oh, hello, Clan Leader. Please, come in."
The woman seemed a little nervous.
But after entering, Chen Nuo saw Chen Yong, along with a middle-aged man who looked very worldly and shrewd.
"Hello, Uncle."
"Hahaha, good lad! I was wondering what was going on when I heard the call to return while I was out on business. Turns out you've become the Clan Leader! Good, you've got skill. You've brought honor to my younger brother."
His uncle was named Chen Shuiwen. He was a traveling merchant who was constantly on the move with his goods, spending at least half the year away from home.
Chen Nuo set down the things he had brought. As he looked at his uncle, a thought suddenly struck him.
'For the Clan's future business endeavors... isn't he a natural consultant and a trustworthy confidant?'
'This is my own uncle, a true-blue relative.'
"Not at all, I was just lucky..."
The two of them exchanged pleasantries for a while longer.
"Hey, Yongzi, Brother Nuo is calling for you. Go on."
Chen Yong, who had long been waiting impatiently on the side, came running over with heavy steps.
"Brother Nuo, hehe."
Chen Yong started scratching his head and grinning foolishly again.
His aunt and uncle standing nearby both looked a bit helpless.
Chen Nuo shook his head. "Uncle, Auntie, besides taking Yongzi out today, there's one other thing."
"Just say the word, Little Nuo. Your uncle will definitely help you."
"No need. It's like this, I found some..."
As he spoke, Chen Nuo took out a first-generation oyster mushroom from his bag.
"What?!"
His uncle and aunt both wore expressions of disbelief.
Chen Yong, however, just smiled. "Does this mean I don't have to go hungry anymore, Brother Nuo?"
He didn't doubt the truth of Chen Nuo's words in the slightest.
"Little Nuo, are you sure?"
"Of course. I'm a scholar. How could I lie?" Chen Nuo said with a slight smile.
At this, his aunt relaxed. That's right, how could a scholar possibly lie?
His uncle's mouth twitched at his side. He had been traveling for years, and although it was only to the surrounding villages and towns, he could still be considered worldly-wise. In his experience, the biggest and most vicious liars were scholars.
'A scholar's mouth is a deceiving ghost!'
'But this is my own nephew. What can I say?'
'In any case, it's just a matter of one tree trunk.'
Seeing his uncle's expression, Chen Nuo knew he didn't believe him.
'It's fine. He'll try it sooner or later. The results will speak for themselves.'
After handing the oyster mushroom to his aunt, Chen Nuo took Chen Yong and began going door to door.
Basically, everyone who heard his proposal was skeptical, but they chose to accept in the face of his persistence.
During this time, his Identity as a scholar proved very useful, lending him a great deal of persuasiveness for free.
When they arrived at Chen Li's house, he also met Chen Li's mother—a sturdy-looking woman with a fierce expression, but who spoke in a very organized manner.
She even expressed her gratitude to him.
Then, when Chen Nuo came out, Chen Li was tagging along behind him.
Finally.
Chen Nuo had visited the home of every member of the Chen Clan in Chen Manor, meeting everyone except for the few who were away.
"Brother Nuo, shouldn't we be heading back now? I'm starving."
Chen Yong asked from the side.
Chen Nuo rolled his eyes and tapped Chen Yong's arm. "All you think about is eating. We're not done yet."
As he said this, however, he gave Chen Yong an egg. Chen Yong chuckled and fell silent.
"Clan Leader, are we going to Jiang Bian's house next?"
Chen Li, who had been silent until now, asked with a hint of reverence.
"Yes. The people in Chen Manor with other surnames are still people of Chen Manor. Naturally, we must treat them all equally."
Chen Li looked like he wanted to say something but held back, probably feeling it was inappropriate to give such a good thing to outsiders.
Chen Nuo smiled. "During the fight over the water channel, did these outsiders send people to help?"
Chen Li replied, "They did. The whole village participated."
"Then that's all that matters. Chen Li, this is Chen Manor. A dozen or so households with different surnames is nothing. Through marriage, they'll integrate sooner or later. Besides, since they contributed their people and their effort, they should naturally be considered one of us."
In truth, aside from these reasons, there was another: they were all from the same village. If others had it, how could they not find out?
To prevent resentment from festering later, it was better to handle it properly now.
'Still, for even Chen Li, the leader of that group of hooligans, to have such thoughts... it really shows how exclusive the Clan can be.'
'I'll have to change this gradually, depending on the situation.'
Soon.
Chen Nuo arrived at the area where the non-clan members lived.
The first stop was the home of Jiang Bian, Chen Li's former subordinate, whom Chen Nuo had saved but who had never come to thank him.
"This Jiang Bian?"
Before stepping through the courtyard gate, Chen Nuo first asked Chen Li.
"He's an orphan. He's been aggressive and fond of fighting since he was a child, and he has a rather gloomy personality. He followed me before just to get by," Chen Li replied.
Chen Nuo understood. "An orphan, huh? No wonder."
The three of them then knocked on the door.
A moment later.
The door opened.
"Who is it?!"
Jiang Bian's expression changed in an instant.
Annoyance turned to surprise and sycophancy.
"Clan Leader? Come in, please, come in! I don't have anything good in the house, I'm sorry for the poor hospitality."
He hurriedly ushered them inside.
Chen Nuo maintained his smile the entire time.
After a few brief words.
Chen Nuo left the Seed and departed with his men.
Not long after they left, Chen Nuo glanced back.
"Chen Li, that subordinate of yours... he's a petty man."
Chen Li froze, involuntarily recalling what Jiang Bian had said to him on the mountain that day. He nodded silently.
'A person's words, actions, and expressions will reveal their true thoughts.'
'I could sense it during our brief conversation. This person is very ambitious. He seemed respectful, even sycophantic, but in reality, he feels no gratitude toward me at all.'
'He's the type to climb by any means necessary. He can be used, but he can never be trusted.'
"A petty man? Brother Nuo, should I go beat him to death?"
Chen Yong clenched his fists at his side.
"No need. Even a petty man has his uses."
Chen Nuo waved his hand dismissively, a smile still on his face.
Chen Li didn't dare to speak.
"Let's go. Next house."
...
After personally handing over the oyster mushrooms to everyone, Chen Nuo didn't send Chen Yong back home.
Instead, he called him over to his own house.
"Here, Yongzi. Eat this. Also, that book our grand-uncle gave you, can you understand it?"
Chen Nuo asked.
Chen Yong's eyes lit up as he stared at the oyster mushrooms in front of him. He nodded while eating, "I can understand it. Grand-uncle taught me how to read when I was little."
"It's just that every time I practice this thing, I get terribly hungry. I don't even dare to practice anymore."
"Good, as long as you can understand it. Go on, eat. From now on, come over for a meal of this every day. You'll soon become bigger, fiercer, and stronger."
Chen Nuo said with a smile.
This was his training plan.
And Chen Yong, as his most loyal paternal cousin and someone with extraordinary Talent, was naturally the first choice.
After this, he would also train those ten men, as well as some other promising young lads.
Only in this way could the Clan grow strong, and only then would his Life Points increase.